SHARON - verified booking

"Just back from a brilliant week away with the family and dog. The cottage is in an ideal private location if you want traffic free area where you can just walk out the gate onto miles of the new Forest trails or mountain bike. And yet only 1/2 a mile off the main A31 dual carriage over the hill. The property has ample garden space for the dog and is enclosed well enough to top our staffy X escaping (not that she would), although smaller breeds would get through the farm gate from the garden. As mentioned horses deer and cattle all wander up to the gate and cottage window so best to park the car inside the garden on the adequate gravel parking. We easily got the golf estate and eldests visiting X5 on the drive . The steep un-metalled track up was fine being summer but i could imagine if you are not used to muddy lanes, could be a shock in winter although it does have stones mixed in. Getting anywhere is straightforward as you are only half mile off the Eastbound A31 to Southampton and then turn half mile further at Picket post where Mc Donalds is to come underneath and back westbound to Ringwood or Poole/ Bournmouth. You can also go from Picket post down to Burley and Christchurch avoiding the westbound A31 if it is blocked. It is also possible to go out the other way from Shobley avoiding the A31 to the next big village at Poulner (5 mins) where there is a Tesco express and great cook to order chippy and pizza takeaway and access Ringwood without touching the A31 dual Carriage. We found due to the hot summer that it was very very busy all around with the A31 and at standstill most days so be prepared to bash the sat Nav to get the back rds across to avoid. We even got back from Bournemouth via Hurn and Avon into Ringwood avoiding the friday night mayhem. There is a Sainsbury and Waitrose but not if taking the dog in heat, parking is a pay and display car park so one person needs to stay with car. We saw vigilante patrols reporting if dogs locked in the car or berating owners to take the dog with them The Cottage has adequate room in both double bedrooms and a nice shower bathroom with good powerful electric shower There is a second toilet although it is very small cupboard almost but OK for emergency's. There is a nice modern conservatory looking over the mature gardens but we spend most time on patio having breakfast etc. Plenty of shade areas on the nice lawn if it gets too hot for the dogs or humans and we found even during the heatwave, it cooled down quickly at night with windows open and a portable fan to blow throughThe BT WIFI hub is good enough for me to stream Sky Sports live so should be adequate and worked in the garden There are loads of places you can take the dog if like last week it was it is too hot to leave in car as it states not to leave the dog in the accommodation alone We found a brilliant pub restaurant at nearby Burley in the Forest The Burley Inn just as you start to head south out Burley village on hill on right that takes dogs and great food You need to check the beaches as some don't allow dogs but many do if on a lead from May -Sept Studland Middle is a National Trust and does allow dogs in the water as well so long as restrained"

Vinnie - verified booking

"Great location in the New Forest and 30mins away from all major places. Great walks from studio itself.Unfortunately, the sudio isn't very private and owners did gardening, watering, compositing and tidying up around us whilst we tried to eat our dinner on the patio which was a bit disconcerting.......maybe that sort of stuff could be done whilst we were out all day? Don't get me wrong, we knew it was on their grounds but every night tiding up 5 feet away from us?? We're stayed in at least 30 cottages etc over 20 years and lots on owners grounds, but most owners respected our family private time together and spoke to us in the morning whilst leaving for the day and did all their 'odd jobs' whilst we were out all day.Plus side love the area and The Royal Oak pub is fantastic and all the staff are brilliant!Also, they got days wrong and thought we were leaving on Thursday and came out to speak to us when we went out at 11am saying don't worry about leaving late, they can still clean it from within time as they have family staying here. As you can imagine a bit of a scare thinking we are being turffed out a day early. Only when i mentioned we're booked until Friday morning did they realise their error.If you're after a private, detached property this isn't the place for you. If you like talking to owners daily whilst eating your dinner then this place is an ideal base.The sofa bed is very uncomfortable and my 6 year old didn't sleep very well due to this. Shower is slow which I'm used to living in a rural myself, but fluctuating from hot to cold every 10 seconds not right."

Scott - verified booking

"Cottage was lovely apart from the very dated kitchen, old storage heaters and the very uncomfortable lower ground floor bedroom bed. Cleanliness was good apart from the windows which were very smeared. Location was quiet and a short walk to the shop and pub. There was nothing else in the village so was always a car journey to get about but not a problem. Recommendations: its nice to enter a warm place but it was like an oven when we arrived. A better heating solution is needed as the storage heater are all or nothing. Considering the price the kitchen needs replacing, it's not big so wouldnt take too much to do. All the furniture is old and mis matched. Unlike a lot of cottages we have rented there was no welcome note or package and no milk in the fridge (the small touches go a long way). I know all of this is personal taste but i believe everyone who stayed here would have a better experience if these changes were done. I would still stay again but only for the location and space and not for the quality of accommodation. And final point what a shame that we had to pay £300 more than a normal week just because it was school half term, greedy."

Amanda and Paul. - verified booking

"This was one of, if not the best week we have spent away.The accomodation and surroundings were fantastic! as was the weather, and our hosts Ulli and Tony are two of the nicest people you could ever wish to meet, really friendly and helpful.Ulli makes the most wonderful flapjack and jam! all part of a lovely welcoming gift.Coming from a town, it was just fabulous waking up to the country views all around us, we even had a family of pretty deer in the paddock one night, and again early one morning walking along the track, as well as numerous species of birds feeding off the hanging feed baskets, some, like the Nuthatch ive never seen before, they are the ones that feed upside down (thanks for that information Tony). Being members of the National Trust we visited somewhere different every day, so many historical castles and houses, and Christchurch beach is gorgeous! and we recommend eating in the Royal Oak Pub, fantastic meals and friendly staff. You also get a really nice Brunch (breakfast) at Hockeys farm, within walking distance. As usual the week went so fast, Soooo relaxing! cannot wait to visit again. Amanda & Paul. X"

James - verified booking

"We loved Damerham and the pub was fantastic and the food was delicious. We felt the staff went out of their way to help us especially as we have small children. The cottage was ok but unfortunately there had obviously been dogs staying in the downstairs room and to be honest there was a very doggy smell in the cottage and lots of dog hairs. It wasn’t a hugely significant issue but as we had paid north of £300 for a 3 night stay would have thought the rooms would have been cleaned adequately. There also wasn’t anywhere to put anything (hotels and guest houses NEVER have enough hooks and storage so perhaps unfair to highlight it with this place) On a more positive note the bedding and rest of the place was very nice and clean and as I have mentioned the staff were incredible. Would highly recommend to stay if you have a dog."